THE Dunfermline Children's Gala is set to return in 2023 after fresh volunteers came forward to help save the historic event.

The popular fixture in the city's calendar was shelved last year after an unsuccessful appeal for new executive committee members.

New blood has been found following stories run in the Press – the committee currently boasts eight members – and the event is now pencilled in to take place on June 24 subject to permissions being granted.

The theme of the day will be 'Cities of the World' as a nod to Dunfermline's recently-granted city status.

New chairperson Gaynor Williamson said: "This will be the first gala since Dunfermline became a city so we want to make is as big as it can be. We have been engaging with schools and need to make sure school reps are available and can participate and, subject to approvals, we are hoping to run it on June 24.

"If people want to get involved, there's a real opportunity to be a school rep or to be a parent helper. Ideally, we would like three school reps per school to share the load. We are grateful for any help."

The new committee is keen to attract local people to help the event run smoothly and are urging any groups or businesses in the Dunfermline area who want to get involved to get in touch.

Gary Love, who announced he would step down from the chairperson role in 2022, said he and fellow committee members Carol Blyth and Anne Kelly would be on hand to offer guidance to the new team at the helm.

"We are continuing to support the gala in terms of providing what expertise we have," he said. "We were not convinced we would get it up and running but new committee members have come along and that has been brilliant.

"It has been on the go since 1902 and it is great to get it back up and running. This gala is unique from other ones. This is a children's gala and that it what is is about and it will be good to have it back."

Gaynor paid tribute to the work of the departing committee.

"We recognise the work they have done over all the years they have been involved," she added. "Thousands of families would not have got that day out without their hard work."

The committee now plans to contact schools to gather their support in the coming weeks and a meeting for school reps is planned at the end of the month.

Anyone wanting to get involved can email committee@dunfermlinegala.com or visit the Dunfermline Children's Gala Facebook page for more information.